These are supposedly particles that are "not real (enough)" compared to "real" particles but exist in a sense that they are assumed to carry "forces" from place to place. To move "forces" is supposed to require the existence of a whole bunch of virtual particles which "may or may not "actually" exist", according to physics (in reality, physics is not concerned with rather they "actually" exist or not…).

Anyone have insight into virtual particles or can explain them better?

"He who would not sacrifice his own soul to save the whole world, is, as it seems to me, illogical in all his inferences, collectively." --Peirce

They seem to be mathematical assumptions in order to allow a "force" to move from one physical location to another physical location. The assumption is that gravity, for instance, moves from one particle of mass to another because in-between those particles is a series of virtual particles (in this case, bosons) which "transfers" the force from one location to another. (Note in this explanation the force itself is only a state of the background energy field partially coalescing in a particular location, with trade-offs between temporal duration, mass, velocity and angular momentum supposedly able to allow for conservation of energy and angular momentum, in most cases). The particle is said to be virtual because it is only a partial manifestation of the background field from which the particles themselves came. Thus when virtual particles form they are short-lived, and are like "waves" of a broader energetic field that is propagating a force from here to there.

The assumption of virtual particles is needed to make the math work out, apparently, to transfer potential energy around, and quantum field theory is able to supply the basis for claiming that such mathematical postulates are reflections of reality itself (as QFT claims that QM probability waves do not literally exist but are only "mathematical functions", it becomes much easier to reify one's math terms as "the reality itself").

"He who would not sacrifice his own soul to save the whole world, is, as it seems to me, illogical in all his inferences, collectively." --Peirce

All weathers are wild, you know what this means? Wolf age, wind age, ~ ᚨOur polity does not copy the laws of neighboring states; we are rather a pattern to others. ~ Thucydidesᛉᛋᛞ

There are innumerable seeds in the earth, innumerably many more than the reckoning of either living or dead trees- the sound of the seeds growing is deafening, and drowns out the sound of all the falling oceans of wood in the forests- but, perhaps, the sound made by the seeds can only be heard with our thoughts. ~ Parodites, 3rd Pentad

The strong do what they can, the weak accept what they must. ~ Thucydides

I have always taken their "virtual particles" to mean "as if a particle" of a specified (yet modifiable) amount or quantity.

For some reason they insist on quantizing everything imaginable, even "fields". I don't really know if that is due to socio-political issues (which account for many other things they insist on) or that they simply can't comprehend the infinities. Or perhaps both.

Although Science was originally intended to be an open source study of physical reality, it has become an egocentric religion taking advantage of an opportunity to be the saviors of the world that is actually only endangered due to them in the first place, driven by serious God-wannabes.

RM:AO uses "Afflates" to emulate portions of the Affectance field (Affectance Oblate). An Afflate is basically a "virtual particle" in that an afflate is a chosen small portion of the affectance field and treated as though it is a fix quantity as it passes through the field of millions of other afflates. In combination, they form the "Affectance ocean" from which actual particles arise. But the choice of affectance quantity for an afflate is arbitrary. Choosing different sizes affects the final precision of any precise calculations being made (usually a result of statistical calculations) but has no affect upon the logic of why particles form and behave the way they do. Choosing a larger afflate merely causes the resultant meta-particle to be larger on the screen.

Clarify, Verify, Instill, and Reinforce the Perception of Hopes and Threats unto Anentropic HarmonyElseFrom THIS age of sleep, Homo-sapien shall never awake.

The Wise gather together to help one another in EVERY aspect of living.

You are always more insecure than you think, just not by what you think.The only absolute certainty is formed by the absolute lack of alternatives.It is not merely "do what works", but "to accomplish what purpose in what time frame at what cost".As long as the authority is secretive, the population will be subjugated.

Amid the lack of certainty, put faith in the wiser to believe.Devil's Motto: Make it look good, safe, innocent, and wise.. until it is too late to choose otherwise.

The Real God ≡ The reason/cause for the Universe being what it is = "The situation cannot be what it is and also remain as it is"..